IQMS Blog for Manufacturing ERP Expertise

Securing new customers is not a straightforward task. How many times have you negotiated a prospective contract to the finish line, only to discover that you are missing a critical piece of software necessary to obtain the new business? For example:

Housing Permits Rise to Fastest Pace Since August 2007 Housing starts were somewhat lower in May than expected, but housing permits rose to their fastest pace since August 2007, according to the Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The new housing starts decline was a result of lower activity for both single-family and multi-family units, but fortunately, new housing permits soared to 1,275,000 units in May. Despite the decline in starts, this report offered some reassurance that the housing market has stabilized, with the promise of increased activity moving forward. To learn more, visit here.

When it comes to family, I have been very blessed in my life. I lucky enough to have my wonderful father around to this day and he gives me great advice. I try everyday to follow in his footsteps and pass all of his values, passion, compassion and strength on to my son.

At the most basic level, a warehouse management system (WMS) is a computerized program for controlling and managing the movement and storage of input materials and finished goods in your warehouse. WMS software guides inventory receiving and put-away, optimizes picking and shipping of orders and advises on inventory replenishment. In the end, the overall goal of a WMS program is to achieve a paperless environment that directs your employees automatically on the optimal picking, put-away and shipping of your products.

Small Business Optimism Rises for Second Straight Month The Small Business Optimism Index rose for the second straight month from 96.9 in April to 98.3 in May, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). At its highest level so far in 2015, this increase suggests that small business owners have begun to move beyond the recent lull in confidence. This mostly positive report includes key indicator growth in areas such as expansion, sales and hiring, but also includes data suggesting some lingering caution from anxieties about the economy. To learn more, visit here.

While on my way to a 5K race this weekend, I passed by some strawberry fields in full bloom. It was early in the morning and you could see many workers out in the fields picking and packing strawberries. It was amazing to watch, as the workers were so concentrated on what they were doing and working extremely hard. From what I understand, most pickers get paid either by the pound or container that they fill, so the harder they work, the more they get paid.

Mar-Bal, Inc. has been thermosetting products in Chagrin Falls, Ohio for 45 years. An engineering-focused company that specializes in high strength, high heat manufacturing, Mar-Bal is acclaimed for its ability to solve customer challenges.

Personal Spending Was Flat in April Falling back after growing 0.5 percent in March, personal spending was flat in April, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This less than desirable level of spending mirrors consumer anxieties about income and labor market growth, translating to sluggish spending on durable and non-durable goods (down 0.7 percent and 0.5 percent in April). But despite overall softer purchase levels over the past six months, personal spending is still experiencing a modest pace of growth. To learn more, visit here.

In many of my blog posts, we discuss project management, ERP software and how to be successful. The latest installment of my blog was centered around the unexpected, so today I am curious to hear more details about what you have in place when things change. Do you have contingency plans established or do you simply change the path of your project? Does it depend on the project type? Let’s share with each other how success is reached in your business.

Digital technology creates, records and stores a lot of data. That data could be from your personal vehicle, your company website or your factory floor. If it is instrumented, it is churning out data. Status and history comprise the bulk of Big Data facts and that data can inform and guide your everyday decision making.

Short-Term Interest Rate Increase Possibly Delayed The minutes from late April’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting highlighted that despite the United States’ slowing economic growth, its outlook remained mostly unchanged for the rest of the year. The Federal Reserve projects growth of 2.3 to 2.7 percent in 2015 and the unemployment rate to fall to right around 5 percent. With this in mind, it is possible that the Federal Reserve’s increase of short-term interest rates might not occur at the June meeting as planned, but rather in September. To learn more, visit here.

In life, you can plan all you want, but you should always be ready for the unexpected. While making a plan is important when you have a major goal or project, we all know that in reality there is no straight path to success - it is an ever-changing roller coaster. I could cite countless examples of career or personal events over my lifetime where this advice came in handy, but instead I want to talk about a client of mine. Recently one of IQMS' customers decided to run a marathon for the second time with his wife.